As a professional, you want to work with companies whose accomplishments inspire you even when you’re currently employed. This is where knowing how to write a letter of interest comes in handy. Learning from letter of interest examples and practicing them frequently could help you land your dream job.
In this article, we’ll define what a letter of interest is and its various parts. You’ll also learn the steps of writing a letter of interest, including the structure and content needed to formulate an effective letter. Finally, you’ll find strong letter of interest examples to help you craft your own.
You’ve been on the job search for a while now, and you have just found a great company for which you want to work. Their culture aligns with your expectations. They are working on interesting products. You think you have the potential to add value to the business.
Then, when you look to see what jobs they are hiring for, you can’t find any that matches your needs. What should you do? That’s when writing a letter of interest can be helpful.
In this guide, we’re going to discuss what letters of interests are and how to write one that will help you land an interview with your dream employer.
What Is a Letter of Interest?
A letter of interest, also known as an inquiry letter, is a formal letter that introduces you to your target company or organization that may have not advertised any job opportunity. Unlike a cover letter that you write to highlight your skills when applying for a specific job, a letter of inquiry focuses on why you would be a great asset to your target company.
A letter of interest is a document used to demonstrate your unique skills and how you can add value to an employer.
While this sounds just like a cover letter, there is one big difference: letters of interest are used to apply for jobs that don’t exist.
Suppose you have found your dream employer, but there are no open roles that match your expertise and career goals. While you could just move on to the next company, there is no need to give up just yet.
Many employers are not so interested in whether candidates match an exact job description. Rather, they want to hire strong candidates who add value to their business. If you can clearly demonstrate that you can add value, there is no reason the company would not be interested in talking to you.
If an employer is only hiring for specific roles—or don’t have the resources to hire any more people—then your letter of interest may not be effective. However, that doesn’t mean that writing a letter of interest is not a good idea. If you are passionate about a company, letters of interest are a good way to start a conversation with them.
What Are the 6 Parts of a Letter of Interest?
- Letter heading. The first section of a letter contains the sender and recipient information. It includes the sender and recipient’s name, physical address, date, phone number, and email address. The information is typically followed by the salutation “Dear Sir/Madam”.
- Subject. The subject is a short and precise statement that tells the recipient exactly what the letter is about. It starts with “RE:”, which means regarding, followed by a statement about your interest in applying for a job. It should be placed between the salutation and body of the letter.
- Introduction. The first paragraph explains why you’re writing, which is to look for a job at the company. It should be clear and concise about your request and contain the most important details, typically only one or two sentences long. The introduction also sets the stage for the reader to continue reading.
- Body. This part allows you to share more about yourself. You may describe the skills and capabilities that make you a strong asset to the company. You can also mention your accomplishments and relevant experiences. Remember that a good letter of interest makes strong connections between an applicant’s abilities and the company’s needs.
- Conclusion. A letter of interest is not complete without a conclusion. In this section, you can thank the potential employer for taking the time to consider you for a possible position. It needs to be concise, preferably two sentences only, to wrap up.
- Sign-off. A letter of interest should end with a complimentary close that’s professionally worded since you’re trying to apply for their future job openings. For example, “Sincerely”, “Thank you”, or “Best regards” can suffice. This is then followed by the sender’s name, a signature, and contact details.
How to Write a Letter of Interest: Beginning and Ending
A letter of interest is only as effective as its ability to communicate intent and partly depends on the letter’s structure. The beginning of the letter should make the reader curious while being explicit about your intent, while, the ending should conclude the letter in the right tone to influence consideration. Below are further details on how you can achieve a strong beginning and end.
How to Begin a Letter of Interest
Start a letter of interest with an opening that engages your reader. You can use a recent story or company update to demonstrate your commitment to the company’s development. Try to articulate the position and department you’re targeting, which may require some research. Keep the beginning simple and concise, and mention your intent in 2 lines or less.
How to End a Letter of Interest
The ending of your letter of interest should invite your reader to take action by reaching out and inviting you for an interview. This call-to-action should use simple, clean, and concise language to keep the reader’s eye on your proposed value. Express your appreciation for their time and mention that you look forward to working with them. Show your strong interest in meeting to explore opportunities.
How to Write a Letter of Interest: 5 More Useful Tips
Caption: Your letter of interest should express your professional experience and achievements while expressing your interest in potential opportunities at the target company.
Research the company
Having a good understanding of the organization you want to be a part of can boost your letter of interest’s impact on your reader. Research reliable information about a company by gathering information about the company’s mission, goals, press releases, and recent news updates. You can use this information to build a proposition of what made you want to work there.
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Learn your target reader’s name
The company’s hiring manager is a human being, and there’s something that excites people when you address them by name. While researching the company, try to find out the name of the staff member responsible for hiring new employees and address them by their name. This simple gesture might help your letter of intent stand out and earn a spot for consideration.
Include your versatile skills
A letter of interest allows you to share your key accomplishments through a professional summary statement. Potential employers don’t expect you to be perfect and typically prefer to work with versatile individuals. So, highlight the skills that set you apart from the rest and those that you’ll use to add value to the company.
Justify how you’ll add value
Employers invest in staff members that add value to their company through outstanding work. When applying for a job, you should focus on your employer. Rather than spending most words praising yourself, spare some sentences to demonstrate how you’ll use your skills and abilities to bring value to the company. However, avoid promising things you can’t deliver for certain.
Keep it brief
A successful letter of interest is not a place to demonstrate your outstanding writing skills and creativity. Typically, a hiring manager doesn’t have time to read long letters and documents so keep your letter short and sweet. Remove filler words during editing and make the letter memorable by using strong words that can help you stand out.
How to Write a Letter of Interest: Extra Tips to Succeed
So, you’re convinced that writing a letter of interest will help you get your name in front of a hiring manager. The next step is to actually write the letter of interest. If you’ve never written one before, you may be wondering: what goes into a good letter of interest?
Let’s break down a few tips you can use to write your letter of interest.
Tip #1: Research the business – again
The first thing you want to do, even before starting to write the letter, is to research the company. Spend some time getting to know the business, its products and services, and its vision for the future.
Having a clear understanding of a business will help you write a more relevant letter of interest. This will help you express why you are interested in working for the company, even if they are not hiring at the moment.
In addition, knowing some basic facts about the business will help you come across as a proactive candidate who is willing to go the extra mile to impress an employer.
You may want to spend time reading about the company’s industry, its products and services, its recent press, and its goals. You can find this information on a company’s website, by talking with current employees, by reading the news, or by conducting a general search online.
Tip #2: Start by explaining why you’re interested
If you were writing a traditional cover letter, you would start by noting the position for which you are applying. If you are writing a letter of interest, there is no specific position you can mention, so instead you can talk about why you are interested in the business.
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Hiring managers want to hear from people who have a sincere passion for working for their business. No company wants to hire someone who is just there for the money, and who knows nothing about the company.
In your introduction, you should briefly discuss what encouraged you to reach out. Do you like the company’s culture? Do you use their product? Do you read their online content? Whatever the reason, make it as specific as possible, and keep it short.
Being passionate about a business shows that you have done your research, and are motivated by their mission. These are two attributes that hiring managers often look for in candidates, and will be noted even though you are applying for a job that may not exist.
Tip #3: Give background on your skills
You’ve just flattered the hiring manager. What’s next? In the main body of your letter of interest, you should talk about the skills and qualifications you believe are relevant to the role you would like to have in the company.
Discuss a few of your main accomplishments and how you used your skills to achieve your goals. It can be helpful to mention statistics when discussing examples of your work. This is because statistics are usually easy to interpret and clearly demonstrate your impact on an organization.
Tip #4: Talk about how you can help them achieve their goals
Why are you reaching out to the company? The answer to this question should be because you feel you can help them achieve their goals. This is something you need to articulate well in your letter of interest.
Do you know how they can improve their marketing campaigns? Do you have skills that are relevant to the business?
In the main body of your letter of interest, you need to discuss how you can add value to the business. The clearer you are about how you can help a business achieve their goals, the more likely they are to be interested in you. If you do a good enough job, they may even consider reaching out about how they can create a position for you.
Tip #5: Be specific
If you’ve impressed the hiring manager, they will want to know what they need to do next. So, you should make sure to answer the question “What do you want the hiring manager to do with your letter?” somewhere in the text.
In your closing paragraph, make a clear request. Do you want the hiring manager to create a specific job? Or do you want to know if they are hiring for a role similar to the one you have described? Do you just want to hear more about the business? It doesn’t matter what you ask for as long as you are clear and specific.
Tip #6: Follow up
If you don’t hear back from a business, you may want to send a follow-up email. Something as simple as “I just wanted to follow up and see if you have read my letter,” will suffice. This will remind the business that you have sent a letter, and may prompt them to take the time to consider your proposal.
If you still haven’t heard back from the company after following up, you can always continue to track their job postings, and apply for any position that opens up in the future. This will help you position yourself as a passionate candidate that does not give up.
Letter of Interest Examples to Help You Apply for Jobs
Although we’ve discussed some powerful tips on how to write a letter of interest, it’s unlikely that you’ll nail it right away, unless you see a strong example. Below are a few examples of well-structured and compelling letters of interest to serve as a guide for your next application. Observe the format and content of the sample letters to pick up the most important details.
Letter of Interest Example 1: Application for Blockchain Developer Role
March 2, 2022
Harry Pete
423 Main Street
Allentown, PA 1703
harry.pete@email.com
123-456-7890
Marvin Winkle
Director, Human Resources
Cointopia
123 Business Rd.
Manhattan, NY 5021
Dear Mr. Winkle,
RE: Application for Blockchain Developer Role
I have been an avid follower of Cointopia since 2021. I have also been aware of plans to upgrade the blockchain source code to enable faster transactions and enhance security. That is why I am applying for a position as a blockchain developer to contribute to this course.
I am a software developer at Vine Tech, where my role is to develop blockchain solutions for clients. I design programs to improve key management systems and resolve bottlenecks in software.
In addition, I hold a Master’s Degree in Computer Science. I have developed large-scale decentralized systems and worked on blockchain cryptography. I take pride in helping and maintaining blockchain security. Through continuous research and education, I stay up-to-date with industry trends, and my focus is to guarantee information security for clients.
I believe my expertise will be of great use to you as you take on your momentous initiative in the blockchain space. I have loved every minute of my time at Vine Tech, but I would like to take on more challenging projects in your company.
Please find my attached resume for your consideration. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to hearing from you.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Harry Pete
Letter of Interest Example 2: Application for a Digital Marketing Position
March 20, 2022
Peter Drury
423 Main Street
Scranton, PA 18503
drury.peter@email.com
123-456-7890
Mary Elsie
Director, Human Resources
Ecommerce Company
123 Business Rd.
Pittsburgh, PA 5421
Dear Ms. Elsie,
RE: Application For Digital Marketing Position at Ecommerce Company
I recently read an article about Ecommerce Company’s new approach to online sales in Ecom Magazine, and I am writing to inquire whether you have any marketing positions open.
I have five years of experience working as a senior marketer for one of our local ecommerce platforms. While in this role, I increased website sales by 200 percent and reduced cart abandonment rates by 50 percent through compelling copy and enhanced user experience.
I have attached my resume, so you can review my education, work experience, and accomplishments. I would appreciate a chance to talk with you or a sales representative, so I can share my insights. I am confident that my skills and experience could benefit your business.
Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response.
Sincerely,
(Signature)
Peter Drury
How to Use Letter of Interest Examples to Write Your Own
The letter of interest examples above should give you a reasonable view of what needs to be included in an effective application letter. You can use them as templates to write your version of a letter of interest. The first example is a great starting point for individuals with years of experience. The second example is shorter and precise, which is best for applicants who prefer simplicity.
Bonus Example Letter of Interest
Writing a letter of interest can feel awkward. You are literally applying for a job that does not exist. You may be skeptical about whether a hiring manager will respond.
To help you write a letter of interest that captures the attention of a hiring manager, we have prepared an example letter that you can use for inspiration.
May 22, 2020
Julian Willard
123 Main Street
Scranton, Pennsylvania
18503
Dear Julian Willard,
As a web developer, I have been following the work of the Beaver Web Company for a number of years, and I have been continually impressed by your work. The website you designed for the local Chamber of Commerce was particularly interesting, and I can tell that it uses a number of modern web technologies. I’d love to explore whether there is any way in which I can help your organization achieve its goals.
I am Susan Peters, a web developer with four years of experience developing websites using cutting-edge technologies. I have spent the last two years working as part of the InnovWeb Association, where I was able to refine my skills using React.js, Ruby on Rails, and acquaint myself with a wide range of web development best practices.
Prior to that role, I was a freelance web developer and worked on a number of sites for local businesses.
I noticed that you are not hiring for any web developer positions at the moment, but I feel like I could still be an asset to your business. I could use my knowledge of web development best practices to help you improve the speed and efficiency of the sites you have created for clients. I could also apply my experience with both front end and back end web development to help you refine your development processes.
I would appreciate an opportunity to learn more about your goals at the Beaver Web Company. I would also love to share more of my specific thoughts on how I can help you develop more efficient and modern websites to help you achieve your goal of becoming the best web development agency in the Scranton area.
Thank you for your time. Let me know if there’s any additional information that you need.
Sincerely,
Susan Peters
susan.peters@email.com
Conclusion: Express Your Interest in a Storng Letter
Writing a letter of interest is an effective way of demonstrating how you can add value to a business, even if there is currently no job listing that aligns with your goals and skills.
You may feel intimidated about sending a letter of interest to a company, especially if you are asking them to consider creating a job for you. However, good employers know to keep an eye out for the best talent and pursue the people who look promising.
It doesn’t matter if you don’t check all the boxes in a job posting; if you can show that you can be an asset to a business, they should be interested in talking with you. Remember the old adage: if you don’t ask, you don’t get.
How to Write a Letter of Interest FAQ
A statement of interest contains your expression of interest to work in a company, your motivation for the interest, and a general idea of your plan if given the opportunity. Often, the plan should indicate how you intend to benefit the company. A statement of interest is quite similar to a letter of intent in terms of content. However, it’s not written in a letter format.
A cover letter is used to apply for a job whose vacancy has been announced. Meanwhile, a letter of interest expresses an interest in working at a company that’s not necessarily hiring. This difference affects the structure of a letter’s body sections, while the other parts remain the same.
The best reply to this question requires you to research the company you’re applying to and note their biggest challenges. Then, translate your desire to work there in a way that benefits the company and faces this challenge. This means matching your skills and passions with their pain points.
Writing a letter of interest for college is similar to writing one for a job. However, in the main body, you can focus on the academic and extracurricular accomplishments that will portray you as a bright, versatile, and interesting individual.
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